I'm really considering purchasing PrE 12 and would like to try it out. (I have another video editing software and would like to try this one.)

When I add video, I get a black screen "Created with Adobe Premiere Elements trial version". When I hit play, I can hear audio, but I don't get any video (just the black screen). Is there a work around, a setting that I can change, or is the trial version supposed to show the black screen?

Note: All Exported/Published + Shared output files WILL have that watermark, and there is no way to remove that, from those output files, or from a DVD-Video. Before doing any output, from a Project, done in the trial version, after activating the program, you MUST Delete the Render files.

Thanks for taking up that part. I was coming back, with a suggestion for the lack of playback issue, but you were quicker, and needed to get a second cup of coffee.

For any playback, or GUI issues, I would also check that I had the very latest video driver installed. That would be the #2 "likely cause," after the actual media, that Neale asks about. To check the video driver, go to the video card mfgr's. Web site, and plug in your model card, plus your OS, and find out the latest video driver from them, nVidia, or AMD/ATI. I would not let the OS, or any utility tell if you have the latest driver - check the mfgr's. Web site for it.

Good luck, and please let us know about your Source Media, and your Project's settings.

If you go through the drill of checking for the latest version of your video card driver at the web site of the manufacturer of your video card and you find that you have the latest version of that driver, then try deleting the BadDrivers.txt file. For 12, it is in a slightly different location than in prior version. If you have Windows 7 or 8 64 bit, it is found in the path....

Local Disc C

Program Data

Adobe

Premiere Elements

12

and in the 12 Folder is the BadDrivers.txt file sitting there among several folders. The one you want is not in one of those folders.

In order to see the path, make sure that you are working with Folder Option Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives active.